Window-scaffold



(No Model.)

D. W. MILLER. WINDOW SGAFPOLD.

No. 542,895. PatentedJuly 16, 1895.

Witnesses: Inventor.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. MILLER, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIN DOW SCAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,895, dated July 16, 1895.

Application filed February 21, 1895. Serial No. 539,276. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, DAVID W. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to portable scaffolds used by painters and other artisans and adapted to be projected from the window-sill of a building, and has for its objects to provide a new and improved device which may be quickly and securely adjusted to the sill of a window, and when not in use folded into a compact form for transportation or storage. These objects I. accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure l is a side elevation of my improved device, showing all the parts in their opened position for adjustment to the sill of a window. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device folded for transportation or storage. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig.4 is a detail top plan view of the adjustable cross-beams. Fig. dis a detail view of the clamping-block, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line to m, Fig. at.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the said drawings the numeral 1 indicates'the main board or platform upon which the artisan is to stand and of a length and width sufficient to afford the desired foothold when projected from a nindow-sill. Hinged to the under side thereof, near its outer end,

is a folding brace 2, adapted to be dropped down at its inner end, as shown in Fig. 1,' to engage with the outer wall of the building below the window-sill. At its point of contact with the wall the brace is cut out centrally to provide the two legs 3 adapted to constitute the points of contact with the wall, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Suitable side hinges 4 connect the brace and main board 1 to limit the downward movement of the inner end of said brace.

The main board 1 is provided for a portion of its length with the central longitudinal slot 5, through which passes the clampingbolt 6, headed on its under end and provided on its upper end with a suitable thumb-nut 17, adapted to securely clamp the parts hereinafter described to themain board 1. One of these parts is attached to the top side of the main board 1, and consists of the two adjustable cross-beams 7 turned at right angles to the main board when in operative position, as shown in Fig. 3, and capable of longitudinal adjustment with respect to each other. This longitudinal adjustment is for the purpose of accommodating them to-various-sized window-frames, with the sides of which they are adapted to be engaged, thus co-operating with the brace 2 in retaining the device in place. They also serve to prevent lateral displacement of the device when inoperative position. Each of these cross-beams has an enlarged outer end 8 and a clip 9, fixed to its extreme inner end and adapted to embrace the body portion of the other cross-beam, thereby permitting a sliding longitudinal adjustment with respect to each other, but preventingtheir separation otherwise. Inner projections 10 at their inner ends limit their approach toward each other and affords a longitudinal space for the passage of the clamping-bolt 6 between them. Additional clips 11 may, if desired, be employed to retain the beams more securely in their relation to each other. These clips 9 and 11 engage at their outer ends in the longitudinal grooves 12 formed on the under sides of the cross-beams 7, as shown in Fig. 3.

Attached to the under side of the main board 1 is the other part clamped by the bolt 6, and itconsisls of a sill-block 13, having a central longitudinal slot 14 therein, through which the lower headed end of the clampingbolt 6 passes. This sill-block is adapted to engage at its enlarged inner end with the inner side of the window-sill, the said inner end of the block being preferably slightly concaved at 14 to accommodate itself to the configuration of the ordinary window-sill. The concaved end of the sill-block is also provided with the two recesses 15, adapted to receive and retain the ends of the legs 3 of the brace 2 when the parts are in their folded positions, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is frequently the case that window-frames are of such size as to render the cross-beams 7 useless, and to provide for this emergency I attach to the under side of the inner end of the sill-block an additional slotted catch 16, having an adjusting-screw 17 passing through the slot therein and into the sillblock. By turning this catch at a right angle to the end of the sill-block and clamping it by means of the adjusting-screw 17, as shown in Fig. 3, I provide an additional clamping device, which will catch under the sill of the window and aid materiallyin retaining the platform in place.

If desired wear-plates may be provided under the thumb-nut 17 of the bolt (3, around the slot in the sill-block 13, and at the points of contact between the side hinges 4 and the main board and brace.

The enlarged outer end 8 of the cross-beams 7 and the concaved end of the sill-block 13 may, if desired, be covered with felt or other suitable material to aid in preventing the parts from slipping, and also to prevent any danger of injury to the woodwork of the windew-frame.

The operation of my device will be understood to be as follows: \Vhen the parts are in their foldedposition, as shown in Fig. 2, and it is desired to place the device on a window for use, the main board 1 is projected out of the window, resting on the sill, the inner end of the brace 2 dropped down to abut against the outer wall below the window-sill, and the thumb-nut 17 loosened to permit the crossbeams 7 to be turned at right angles to engage the sides of the window-frame and the sillbloek 13 to be brought firmly against the inner side of the window-sill. The thumb-nut is then screwed up, thus firmly clamping both the cross-beams 7 and the sill-block 13 in their adjusted positions. Vhen desired, the additional catch 16 on the sill-block 13 may be employed. It will be understood that the longitudinal slot in the sill-block 13 affords a means for its adjustment independently of the cross-beams 7. When the parts are in theirfolded positions,the single clamping-bolt 6 serves to retain the cross-beams 7 and the sill-block in position, and through the medium of the sill-block also retains the brace 2 folded.

If desired, eyes 18 or other suitable means may be attached to one side of the main board, to which a strap or board may be fastened for convenience in carrying the device when folded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a window scaffold, the combination with the main board or platform, and an outside brace attached to the under side thereof, and an adjustable sill block on the under side of the platform to engage the inner side of the window sill, of the adjustable cross beam 7 having enlarged outer ends 8, the clips 9 fixed to their inner ends, and inner projections 10, secured in position by a clamping bolt, substantially as shown and described.

2. A Window scaffold consisting of the main board or platform 1 having the central longi tudinal slot 5; the folding brace 2; side hinges 4; the adjustable cross bars 7; the sill block 13 having the central slot 11 and the clam ping bolt 6, substantially as shown and described.

3. A window scaffold consisting of the platform 1; the folding brace 2; the hinges 4; the adjustable cross beams 7; the sill block 13; the slotted catch 16 on the inner end of the sill block adjustable by the screw 17, and the clamping bolt 6, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a window scaffold, the combination with a slotted main board or. platform, and an outside brace attached to the under side thereof, of adjustable cross beams on the upper side thereof adapted to engage the window frame, a slotted adjustable sill block on the underside thereof adapted to engage the inner window sill, and a single clamping bolt engaging the cross beams with the main board or platform and passing through the slots in for adjustably connecting the main board or platform, the cross beams, and the sill block together, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a window scaffold, the combination of the platform 1; the folding brace 2 having the legs 3; the beams 7, and the clamping bolt 6, with the sill block 13 having the recesses 15 adapted to receive and retain the ends of'the legs 3 of the brace 2 when the parts are folded up for transportation or storage, substantially as shown and described.

DAVID V7. MILLER. \Vitnesses:

WILLIAM A. MClLHENNY, JOHN P. MILLER, JOHN N. LOGAN.

go said main board or platform and the sill block 1 

